What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Bifida Ferment Lysate
Skin ConditioningDipropylene Glycol
HumectantCyclopentasiloxane
EmollientGlycerin
HumectantSqualane
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
SmoothingDimethicone
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientArachidyl Alcohol
EmollientWater
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin ConditioningCetearyl Alcohol
EmollientC12-16 Alcohols
EmollientPolyglyceryl-2 Stearate
EmulsifyingBehenyl Alcohol
EmollientErythritol
HumectantPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingButylene Glycol
Humectant1,2-Hexanediol
Skin ConditioningGlyceryl Stearate
EmollientHydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingStearyl Alcohol
EmollientDimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningArachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPalmitic Acid
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingTromethamine
BufferingIllicium Verum Fruit Extract
PerfumingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingMangifera Indica Seed Butter
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingIsohexadecane
EmollientPersea Gratissima Oil
Skin ConditioningHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentAdenosine
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 80
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
EmollientCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Oleate
EmulsifyingGlucose
HumectantCaprylic/Capric Triglyceride
MaskingDaucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientSodium Phosphate
BufferingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDeoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea
Skin ConditioningTocopherol
AntioxidantEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingCholesterol
EmollientLecithin
EmollientPhosphatidylcholine
EmulsifyingAcetyl Hexapeptide-8
HumectantSh-Oligopeptide-2
Skin ConditioningSh-Polypeptide-1
Skin ConditioningAstaxanthin
Skin ConditioningSh-Oligopeptide-1
Skin ConditioningBifida Ferment Lysate, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Alcohol, C12-16 Alcohols, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Erythritol, Polysorbate 60, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Palmitic Acid, Allantoin, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Illicium Verum Fruit Extract, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Mangifera Indica Seed Butter, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Persea Gratissima Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Adenosine, Polysorbate 80, Disodium EDTA, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Ceramide NP, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucose, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Deoxyphytantriyl Palmitamide Mea, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Cholesterol, Lecithin, Phosphatidylcholine, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sh-Oligopeptide-2, Sh-Polypeptide-1, Astaxanthin, Sh-Oligopeptide-1
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
HumectantPropylene Glycol
HumectantCetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientCetearyl Olivate
Phenoxyethanol
PreservativeSorbitan Olivate
EmulsifyingHydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingDimethicone
EmollientAllantoin
Skin ConditioningEthylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningSorbitan Isostearate
EmulsifyingPolysorbate 60
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Niacinamide
SmoothingCeramide NP
Skin ConditioningAscorbic Acid
AntioxidantParfum
MaskingWater, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Cetearyl Olivate, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Polysorbate 60, Disodium EDTA, Niacinamide, Ceramide NP, Ascorbic Acid, Parfum
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Allantoin is a soothing ingredient known for its protective and moisturizing properties; it's basically a quiet workhorse ingredient you can find in a huge range of cosmetics.
Though it can be derived from the comfrey plant, allantoin is produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.
Research shows it can encourage your skin cells to turn over and renew by stimulating keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation.
It also has mild keratolytic properties to help loosen and shed dead skin cells without being harsh.
Studies also suggest allantoin can help calm inflammation by dialing down some of the chemical signals your skin sends out when it is irritated.
This ingredient is typically used in the 0.1-0.5% range, and the FDA recognizes it as a skin protectant in OTC products up to 2%.
Overall, allantoin is a wonderful addition to most routines; it is stable across a wide pH range (~4-8), works well with other ingredients, and is considered non-sensitizing/non-irritating.
Fun fact: Allantoin is naturally occurring in comfrey root, beets, chamomile, and wheat sprouts. Our bodies even produce it as a byproduct of uric acid metabolism.
Learn more about AllantoinCeramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids.
Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes.
This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants.
A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%.
Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days.
Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient.
Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically.
Learn more about Ceramide NPDimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz. It is also known as polydimethylsiloxane.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeDisodium EDTA is a chelating agent. It grabs onto and deactivates metal ions that sneak into your products from water, packaging, or air.
This ingredient mainly works behind the scenes and helps with:
On top of that, this ingredient can counteract the effects of hard water by binding to the minerals in it.
One thing worth knowing is that Disodium EDTA has been shown to be a mild penetration enhancer. It can help other ingredients absorb into skin more effectively which can be a double-edged sword (great for actives, but can also make the active too strong if you have sensitive skin).
Clinical patch testing showed no significant skin irritation at typical use concentrations and minimal dermal absorption.
You'll most likely see this ingredient near the end of an ingredient list. It's typically found in concentrations less than 1%.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAEthylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinHydrogenated Polydecene is a synthetic emollient. It forms a non-occlusive film on the skin's surface to provide a silky feel without being greasy.
In vivo studies in volunteers with atopic and dry skin showed no irritation or intolerance. The volunteers also saw a positive effect in dryness, scaling, and roughness after 28 days of use.
Concentrations up to 100% in guinea pig tests found it to be non-sensitizing and completely safe for use in cosmetics.
Learn more about Hydrogenated PolydeceneThis is a synthetic polymer. It helps improve the texture of products by adding thickness and gel-like feel.
It is also an emulsifer, meaning it prevents ingredients such as oil and water from separating. It also helps evenly disperse other ingredients.
Niacinamide is a multitasking form of vitamin B3 that strengthens the skin barrier, reduces pores and dark spots, regulates oil, and improves signs of aging.
And the best part? It's gentle and well-tolerated by most skin types, including sensitive and reactive skin.
You might have heard of "niacin flush", or the reddening of skin that causes itchiness. Niacinamide has not been found to cause this.
In very rare cases, some individuals may not be able to tolerate niacinamide at all or experience an allergic reaction to it.
If you are experiencing flaking, irritation, and dryness with this ingredient, be sure to double check all your products as this ingredient can be found in all categories of skincare.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
When you apply niacinamide to your skin, your body converts it into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). NAD is an essential coenzyme that is already found in your cells as "fuel" and powers countless biological processes.
In your skin, NAD helps repair cell damage, produce new healthy cells, support collagen production, strengthen the skin barrier, and fight environmental stressors (like UV and pollution).
Our natural NAD levels start to decline with age, leading to slower skin repair, visible aging, and a weaker skin barrier. By providing your skin niacinamide, you're recharging your skin's NAD levels. This leads to stronger, healthier, and younger looking skin.
Another name for vitamin B3 is nicotinamide. This vitamin is water-soluble and our bodies don't store it. We obtain Vitamin B3 from either food or skincare. Meat, fish, wheat, yeast, and leafy greens contain vitamin B3.
The type of niacinamide used in skincare is synthetically created.
Learn more about NiacinamidePolysorbate 60 is used to help stabilize products. It is a surfactant and emulsifier. These properties help keep ingredients together in a product. Surfactants help reduce surface tension between ingredients with different states, such as liquids and solids. Emulsifiers help prevent oils and waters from separating.
Polysorbate 60 is sorbitol-based and created from the ethoxylation of sorbitan. Ethoxylation is a chemical reaction used to add ethylene oxide. Sorbitan is a the dehydrated version of sorbitol, a sugar found in fruits.
In this case, the 60 comes from reacting 60 units of ethylene oxide with sorbitan.
Polysorbates are commonly used in medicine and foods.
Learn more about Polysorbate 60Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water